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Geometric Patterns in Islamic Decoration

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GEOMETRIC PATTERNS IN ISLAMIC DECORATION A PARAMETRIC ENVISION OF PORTUGUESE AND AZERBAIJAN ISLAMIC GEOMETRIC MOTIFS AYDAN AGHABAYLI Bachelor of Architecture Dissertation to Obtain Master Degree in Architecture Scientific Advisors: PEDRO MIGUEL GOMES JANUÁRIO PAULO JORGE GARCIA PEREIRA Members of Jury: ANTÓNIO CASTELBRANCO (President) LUÍS MIGUEL COTRIM MATEUS (Arguer) Faculty of Architecture of the University of Lisbon, Lisbon, 2016 GEOMETRIC PATTERNS IN ISLAMIC DECORATION | A Parametric Envision of Portuguese and Azerbaijan Islamic Geometric Motifs 2 | Page GEOMETRIC PATTERNS IN ISLAMIC DECORATION | A Parametric Envision of Portuguese and Azerbaijan Islamic Geometric Motifs GEOMETRIC PATTERNS IN ISLAMIC DECORATION A PARAMETRIC ENVISION OF PORTUGUESE AND AZERBAIJAN ISLAMIC GEOMETRIC MOTIFS Author: Aydan Aghabayli Scientific Advisors: Paulo Jorge Garcia Pereira and Pedro Miguel Gomes Januario Master in Architecture July, 2016 ABSTRACT Portugal and Azerbaijan had a strong Islamic influence in the past. Even nowadays, we can experience signs of this cultural heritage, and the tangible and intangible impact in both countries. It is noticeable in many areas likewise in architecture. In Portugal, despite many examples of Islamic heritage influence have been lost or destroyed, there still are in some particular cities a remarkable architecture and ornamentation legacy. On the other hand, the situation in Azerbaijan is slightly different due to the fact that the majority of Azerbaijan’s population is Muslim. Therefore, there are still many living examples of Islamic geometric motifs in architecture and eventually, a living tradition. 3 | P a g e GEOMETRIC PATTERNS IN ISLAMIC DECORATION | A Parametric Envision of Portuguese and Azerbaijan Islamic Geometric Motifs The present dissertation is part of an ongoing research project entitled “Biomimetics and Digital Morphogenesis” enrolled at the CIAUD Research Centre of the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Lisbon. The main focus of this work will be given to girih - a particular geometric pattern used in Islamic decoration, which can be found in a wide area from Portugal to Azerbaijan. The geometric patterns in Portugal were used mainly in “azulejos”, "alfarge" and some stucco works, while in Azerbaijan, they are employed in different manners of designing mainly stone decorations and glass decorations on "shebeke" (an art of creating windows consisting of colorful glass and small wooden details attached without glue or nail using). Nevertheless, all of the decorative elements deployed use a range of symmetries that have now been classified as belonging to distinct mathematical groups. But the subtlety and beauty of the designs are unparalleled in modern mathematical thinking and design. Thus, our goal is to try to establish a relationship between the survey examples of Islamic geometric patterns in Portugal and Azerbaijan; to assemble a parallel between those decorative elements in both countries; and try to establish if there are some connections, similarities and the levels of correspondence. Keywords: Islamic decoration, geometric patterns, Portugal, Azerbaijan, mathematics in Islam, Islamic philosophy, Islam 4 | Page GEOMETRIC PATTERNS IN ISLAMIC DECORATION | A Parametric Envision of Portuguese and Azerbaijan Islamic Geometric Motifs Acknowledgement I would first like to thank my thesis advisor Prof. Pedro Miguel Gomes Januário. The door to Prof. Januário office was always open whenever I ran into a trouble spot or had a question about my research or writing. He supported me when I came out with this thesis theme, understand and enrich my ideas. Prof. Januário consistently allowed this paper to be my own work, but steered me in the right the direction whenever he thought I needed it. I am deeply grateful to my second advisor Prof. Paulo Jorge Garcia Pereira who was providing me all of the useful information when I have asked. He supported and helped me in all situations that seemed inextricable. Without his passionate participation and input, the research paper could not have been successfully completed. I would also like to thank the experts from Azerbaijan who helped me to develop this research project. I am especially grateful to: the head of the department in Institute of Architecture and Art of ANAS Rahiba Aliyev; prof. of Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction Sabina Hajiyeva and young architect Sattar Karimli. They facilitated to continue my research on distance and were ready to help whenever I asked to. The interest and involving they have expressed was very important for my research process. I am also thankful to all of the professors who was teaching me during the master education and let me improve myself as an architect, to my classmates, who helped me to adapt to a new university with a different education system and language and to all Faculty stuff to make my studying hours more enjoyable. I look forward to a continuing collaboration with all of them in the future. Finally, I must express my very profound gratitude to my parents, to my friend Afat Mammadzada and to my boyfriend Azat Yalçın for providing me with unfailing support and continuous encouragement throughout my years of study and through the process of researching and writing this thesis. This accomplishment would not have been possible without them. Thank you. Aydan Aghabayli Faculty of Architecture University of Lisbon, March 5 | P a g e GEOMETRIC PATTERNS IN ISLAMIC DECORATION | A Parametric Envision of Portuguese and Azerbaijan Islamic Geometric Motifs 6 | Page GEOMETRIC PATTERNS IN ISLAMIC DECORATION | A Parametric Envision of Portuguese and Azerbaijan Islamic Geometric Motifs TABLE OF FIGURES .......................................................................................... 9 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 17 1. ISLAMIC ART ............................................................................................... 23 1.1. Islamic art and religion............................................................................ 23 2. SPECIFICS OF ISLAMIC ART ....................................................................... 29 2.1. Caligraphy ............................................................................................. 31 2.2. Arabesques............................................................................................ 34 2.3. Geometric patterns ............................................................................... 36 3. ISLAMIC GEOMETRIC PATTERNS ............................................................. 39 3.1. The sense of patterns ............................................................................ 39 3.2. Symmetry .............................................................................................. 41 3.3. Nature and Geometric patterns ............................................................. 44 3.3.1 Flowers ........................................................................................... 44 3.3.2 Light ................................................................................................ 48 3.4. Numbers and patterns ........................................................................... 50 4. COSMOLOGICAL APPROACH TO ISLAMIC GEOMETRIC PATTERNS .... 59 4.1. Heaven and Earth .................................................................................. 59 4.2. Geometric rules to create Islamic geometric patterns ............................. 60 4.3. Techniques of creating Islamic geometric patterns. ................................. 64 5. ISLAMIC ART AND GEOMETRIC PATTERNS IN AZERBAIJAN .................. 69 5.1. Islamic Geometric Patterns in Sheki ........................................................ 69 5.2. Baku Stone Geometric Patterns ............................................................. 74 5.3. Islamic geometric patterns in Nakhchivan ............................................... 83 5.4. Karabakh Geometric Patterns ................................................................ 89 5.4.1. Shusha............................................................................................ 89 5.4.2. Aghdam .......................................................................................... 94 7 | P a g e GEOMETRIC PATTERNS IN ISLAMIC DECORATION | A Parametric Envision of Portuguese and Azerbaijan Islamic Geometric Motifs 6. PORTUGAL AND ISLAM .......................................................................... 101 6.1. Historical review .................................................................................. 101 6.2. The astonishing “Cava de Viriato” (Viseu) ............................................. 105 6.3. An Almohad mosque in Portugal: Mértola ............................................ 107 6.4. Azóias, arrábidas and morábitos .......................................................... 112 7. ISLAMIC GEOMETRIC PATTERNS IN PORTUGAL ................................. 117 7.1. Azulejos ............................................................................................... 117 7.1.1. The origin of the name ................................................................. 117 7.1.2 The portuguese Mudejar context (hispano-moresque) ................... 120 7.1.3. Azulejos types ............................................................................... 125 7.1.4. Portuguese 17th century pattern azulejos ...................................... 138 8. PARAMETRIC
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